Chelsea captain Reece James undergoes knee surgery for another injury setback

Reece James will miss further Premier League action after Chelsea confirmed the 26-year-old captain underwent successful minor knee surgery, having already been sidelined since a thigh injury sustained in training during the international break.

James was absent from Chelsea’s 5-1 victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge last weekend while medical assessments were carried out. Those assessments concluded that surgery was the necessary course of action.

In a statement, the club said: “Captain Reece James has undergone successful minor knee surgery. Reece has already begun his road to recovery and will be supported by the club’s medical department at Cobham during this rehabilitation phase. Everyone at Chelsea wishes Reece a speedy recovery and will support him on his road to return.”

The England international had started Chelsea’s first four Premier League matches of the season before the thigh problem ended his run in the side following the 2-2 draw with Hull on 12 September. The knee issue emerged separately during training ahead of the international break.

Injuries have been a persistent theme of James’s recent career. He missed several spells last season with hamstring problems, and despite dismissing questions about his fitness as “boring” before the World Cup, he went on to miss two of England’s matches at the tournament through injury.

No return date has been set, and Chelsea have not indicated a timeline for his rehabilitation.